DURHAM -- Entering his fourth season with the Blue Devils, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles guides a unit that returns five starters from a year ago.

The Blue Devils had three members of its defensive unit earn All-ACC honors in 2012: defensive end Kenny Anunike (Honorable mention), safety Walt Canty (2nd team) and cornerback Ross Cockrell (1st team). Anunike led Duke in sacks for the second straight season, Canty paced the squad in tackles with 109 while Cockrell, an honorable mention All-America pick by Sports Illustrated, posted an ACC-best five interceptions on the year.

Both Anunike and Cockrell return from last year’s squad.

Duke will welcome the return of redshirt junior linebacker Kelby Brown, who missed the entire 2013 campaign while recovering from knee surgery. A Freshman All-America choice in 2010, Brown has started 17 career games while amassing totals of 128 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four fumble recoveries.